President Donald Trump is taking aim at LeBron James after footage of the NBA superstar moving through warm-up motions during the national anthem before the Philadelphia 76ers’ season opener against the New York Knicks sparked a public controversy.
Trump criticized James on Thursday, October 22, accusing the four-time NBA champion of disrespecting the United States and demanding an apology. But James had a brief response of his own, dismissing the president’s criticism as a sign of a slow news day.
What Happened During the National Anthem?
The incident occurred Tuesday, October 20, at Madison Square Garden in New York, ahead of Philadelphia’s matchup against the Knicks.
As the national anthem played, James was seen standing alongside his 76ers teammates while moving through warm-up motions, including arm movements resembling a golf swing and his basketball shooting motion. Most of the players around him remained relatively still.
Video of the moment circulated on social media before drawing Trump’s attention.
The president subsequently shared the footage on Truth Social, using it to criticize James and question his conduct during the anthem.
Trump Demands an Apology
Trump did not hold back in his assessment of the 41-year-old forward.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump wrote in his social media post.
He continued by calling James a “TOTAL DISGRACE” and demanding that the NBA star apologize to American service members and others who died defending the country and its flag.
Trump also revisited his longstanding criticism of James, with whom he has clashed publicly on several occasions over the years.
The controversy adds another chapter to the complicated relationship between the president and one of professional sports’ most recognizable figures.
LeBron James Responds to Trump’s Criticism
James did not appear particularly concerned about Trump’s remarks.
Following Philadelphia’s home opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, the veteran forward brushed off the criticism with a short response.
“Must be a slow news day at the office. Slow news day at the office,” James said.
His response came after the 76ers pulled off a remarkable comeback, overcoming a 29-point deficit to defeat Cleveland, 114-106.
Rather than allowing the controversy to dominate the conversation surrounding his return to Philadelphia, James kept his public response brief.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse also characterized the president’s comments as another outside distraction, emphasizing that his priority remained preparing the team for competition.
A Long History of Clashes Between Trump and LeBron
This latest exchange is not the first time James and Trump have exchanged verbal barbs, dating back to Trump’s first term in the presidential seat. Back in 2017, James called Trump “a bum” after he rescinded the Golden State Warriors’ championship visit to the White House following Stephen Curry expressing reticence about attending.
Trump has repeatedly criticized athletes whose public positions or behavior he disagrees with, particularly surrounding national anthem ceremonies.
For James, the latest incident arrives as he begins a new chapter in his career with Philadelphia after spending eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Bigger Conversation: Patriotism, Sports and Athlete Expression
The controversy raises a familiar question in American sports: What does respect for the national anthem look like, and who gets to define it?
Trump views James’ movements during the ceremony as disrespectful to the country and those who sacrificed their lives in its defense. Others may interpret the footage as routine pregame movement rather than a deliberate political statement.
The available footage establishes what James was doing physically, but it does not, by itself, establish his intentions.
That distinction matters when separating observable actions from assumptions about an athlete’s motives.
James has not publicly indicated that his movements during Tuesday’s anthem were intended as a protest. His response to Trump focused instead on dismissing the criticism.
As the discussion continues, the incident underscores how moments that last only seconds before an NBA game can quickly become national talking points when sports, politics and celebrity converge.
